4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[jjo5555]

Had the three girls a week. One of them, we don't know which one is laying already.

 

Today was their first day out the run.

 

They came straight out and wandered around the garden but never going far from the eglu.

 

They were having a great time.

 

Anyway I went inside for an hour and came out as it was getting dark. Two of the girls were settled in for the night but the third was nowhere to be found.

 

We've looked all over including over the fence.

 

Could a fox have got her? Don't they leave a mess behind?

 

Or could she be perched somewhere else for the night and will come back? Do they know how to get home?

 

Jason

[Redwing]

Oh dear! I guess as it was getting dark she may have found somewhere to roost - do you have any bushes where she could be snuggled away? It is worth having another look in nooks and crannys with a torch

 

Sorry to sound so glum - good luck, I hope all turns out well.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Hi there, this has happened to quite a few people but in the morning a sleepy little chicken emerges from a bush or tree . I'm sure this will be the case with you too . She obviously hadn't quite worked out where to go to bed .

[jjo5555]

Yes lots of bushes but we looked hard. However it was dark. Hopefully in the morning she will turn up again. I couldn't find any signs of a struggle.

 

What do people here usually do? Only let them out of the pen if you are physically in the garden?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Depends on your fox situation . Once you've had a visit (either a scare or lost some chickens ) you probably wouldn't let them out unsupervised. It's easy to become relaxed about the threat if you haven't ever seen a fox (like me) so I do let my girls out unsupervised but try to keep an eye open through windows.

[craftyhunnypie]

With a bit of luck it will turn up in the morning as cheeky as anything fingers crossed!

Let us know please, as I will worry!

 

Emma.x

[jjo5555]

!! !!

 

We looked this morning and found clear signs of a big struggle at the rear of the garden and over in to the neighbour's, Feathers everywhere!

 

I can only assume a fox, although we have never seen one in our garden.

 

What is particularly sad about this is this means that we can never let the girls out of the run unless we are in the garden. Which means they will spend a lot of time in there.

 

Jason

[Redwing]

I am really sorry.

 

I was keeping my eye out for some news from you today but didn't think it would be this

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Oh no . I'm so sorry . After me saying she'd be fine too .

[smanners]

What sad news Extra vigilance from now on as predator ( probably fox) knows where to come and may be back.

[jjo5555]

Thanks all.

I do want to replace her ASAP. I've mailed the Omlet guys but I'm not sure they will deliver just the one chicken.

 

Jason

[Egluntyne]

That is a shame. Bloomin' fox.

[jlo]

so sorry to hear this. I think that we were all with you in hoping for a happy ending!

[Larkspurs]

Best of luck with getting a new chicken. I was lurking for a few days before joining and read your posts but wasn't sure what to say. Whenever I read about a lost chicken it always makes me sad for people, so I'm terribly sorry to hear about your loss

 

Just keep an eye out for Mr Fox in future I guess. We have a few in our area, I can hear them shrieking at night...

[Hendy]

So sorry to hear that. I let mine free range all day but after all the terrible stories on here I bought my chooks a Foxwatch for Christmas. You can only try to do all you can to fox-proof your garden or else keep them enclosed the whole time.

[mostin]

So sorry to hear your sad news , I was really hoping she would come back to you the next morning.